THE TRADITION OF THE WITCH BEFANA: AN ITALIAN CHRISTMAS LEGEND

In Spain and Mexico, tradition tells that the three Wise Men from the East are in charge of bringing gifts to children during the night of January 5-6. However, in countries like Denmark, Sweden, the United States or France, Santa Claus or Santa Claus is the figure in charge of distributing them and making the dreams of the little ones come true on the night of December 24.

Each country has maintained its traditions, and Italy could not be less. The tradition of the Befana witch in Italy maintains the existence of a careless old witch who, with a headscarf, broken shoes and a sack, flies over the roofs of houses on the night between January 5 and 6. La Befana descends through the chimneys to fill the children's socks with toys, chocolates, sweets or coal.

The term "Befana" is an abbreviation of the word Epiphany, which derives from the Latin "Epiphany" and the Greek επιφ?νεια which means "apparition". Therefore, the Befana festival is celebrated on the day of the Epiphany, which generally coincides with the end of the holiday period.



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